#WorldCupRank: No. 16 Bastian Schweinsteiger

Why he's ranked: There have been suggestions in some quarters that Schweinsteiger does not fit into the ethos of coach Pep Guardiola at Bayern Munich, but that seems hard to believe. Powerful, rugged, solid on the pass and mobile for a man of his build, this midfielder needs a sprinkling of glory on the international stage to confirm his greatness.

Bastian Schweinsteiger is an injury concern but now should still form a big part of Germany's World Cup plans.

Key stat: Most touches by any player over past two World Cup tournaments (1,106).

What the experts say: "The brain of Germany's midfield and the man with required experience that can lead the team to the title." -- Paulo Vinicius Coelho, ESPN Brasil

" 'Schweini', as they call him in Bavaria, is the pacesetter of this Germany team. His crisp passing and knack for scoring important goals has made him the most consistent central midfielder of his generation." -- Raphael Honigstein